www.CostaRicaTicas.com

In general
Yeah fine "boards" have made way for "groups,"
While at the SL and making idle bar conversation I have had more and more people ask me if I am a member of the same ex-pat Facebook group they are on. Those same people have not heard of this site.
For certain discussion topics the discussion boards are still strong. How often is 4chan or reddit still in front page news? VERY active for a certain type of community that values anonymity. Even Usenet is still a thing if you're hardcore.

This site specifically
I found CRT in 2011 and joined in '12. I found it as a result of the Clueless Clyde stories. The trip reports in those memoirs were fun and educational. This site used to have those stories and better...with photos!
The 3-4 years I was on here BCD there were photos and regular trip reports.
Since then all the photos got pulled and everyone is afraid to post.

Not saying they shouldn't be. Not saying it should go back to the way it was. Just saying that is what changed: No new content.

As someone mentioned I still check in regularly to see what has opened/closed/changed since my last trip. (I can't wait to hear how this new guy with the Monkey Bar makes out!)
That has value, but it isn't going to drive new subscribers.

Another thought. When ownership changed new owner took away life member status of several members who earned this with years of membership and postings. I know a few great posters who left never to look at the site again!

When I first started following mongering related message boards back in 2000, I'm not sure law enforcement had such a presence as it probably does today. We all know certain high profile individuals who have gotten in big trouble as the result of making posts on these boards, and we also know how posting info on these boards can have a direct effect on the venues, prices, ladies, etc. that we discuss. Therefore, maybe people have become much more reserved about putting out information, or have simply stopped contributing, and the boards have shrunk or disappeared as a result.

My first international mongering trip in 2000 was a direct result of information gleaned from a particular mongering board. It was like, "here are the instructions, now just go out and do it!". I would never have had the info needed to pull off a great trip like that without the benefit of that resource.

I'm not sure that exists anymore, and I also wonder (with respect to the original post) how newbies get entry into the hobby these days.

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If you let the devil ride, he's gonna want to drive

I think 99.9% of the search results there will be useless, and you will get a few that will likely direct you to some sites like this one if you dig enough, but that answer's not really all that helpful with regards to specifics or to the experiences of the people here, or their specific knowledge about emerging trends and channels.

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If you let the devil ride, he's gonna want to drive

Think we should add a “Monuments” section in the VIP and put all the obit threads there. Would likely be quite active in the years ahead

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Lurked on CRT in 2003, and finally joined in 2004. I still check the board every day... mostly for nostalgic reasons and to see if old friends posted. The "hobby" seems to have migrated from SJ to other "hot" destinations in the world. Also, technology has evolved, and the "hunt" continues on other electronic platforms. At least CRT is less contentious that it was back in its "heyday."

Which platforms? Also, as far as CRT goes I never found it contentious except in a good natured way in its heyday (for the most part. There's always exceptions) I found it started to get contentious once the old guard started leaving and the culture evolved, which is also when the site started going downhill. Still, to get back to the point again, "which platforms?". lol

What I meant by "platforms" are the "apps" which did not exist when the board started like Facebook and Whatsapp. Tinder and even Skype.

What I find is you can do google searches on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and all the sites like Facebook, Tinder, WhatsApp. and on and on BUT they will show you MPs, available girls etc and no advice or tips on how to deal with these places and what to expect. A newbie is going to have a painful learning curve going up against sharks and pros.in anyplace like the Del Rey and Cocal or venues anywhere in the world.
The result can be a okay experience if you are lucky or a horror ripoff that will forever turn you off. Not to mention being, drugged, robbed or beaten up.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET